There are often narrow windows of opportunity to effect political and social change after notable events. Following Hurricane Sandy, the United States missed one such opportunity. Instead of stepping back and considering formulating a national plan for coastal management, adaptation, and storm recovery, The United States chose to ignore climate change and future vulnerability and hold the U.S. shoreline in place. Dr. Young comments, “We have no national plan or national vision for how we should be responding to storms, how we should be rebuilding after storms in a sensible way, how we should be spending federal dollars to provide coastal protection through beach nourishment and dune building projects.” This effort has come at great expense to the federal taxpayer, the environment, and the federally subsidized flood insurance program. Dr. Young raises the question: “Can we afford to continue doing this, and what will it take to change our behavior?”
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